49ers rookie Ricky Pearsall Jr. could have big role vs. Dallas Cowboys

SANTA CLARA — Upon further review, maybe Ricky Pearsall Jr. wasn’t actually physically able to play another game Monday.

The 49ers’ rookie wide receiver, fresh off playing 48 snaps in his NFL debut in a 28-18 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs, was working off excitement and adrenaline when he told the assembled media he was ready to play again the following day.

“Maybe I spoke too soon,” Pearsall said Wednesday as the 49ers began preparation for their Week 8 game against the Dallas Cowboys at Levi’s Stadium. “I was a little sore, had a little neck soreness, but that’s really all I was feeling. Probably because I haven’t received any contact or any kind of punishment.”

It could be that Pearsall is in for another 48 snaps or more Sunday night as the 49ers will attempt to go into their bye week with a 4-4 record. Brandon Aiyuk is out for the season with a torn ACL and MCL. Leading wide receiver Jauan Jennings is coming off a right hip injury that sidelined him for the Chiefs game. Jennings didn’t practice Wednesday.

Deebo Samuel was ill — he was later hospitalized with pneumonia — and played just four snaps. Samuel was on site Wednesday and wasn’t practicing. During the media practice window, Samuel was running on the side. Tight end George Kittle (foot sprain) also didn’t practice.

Coach Kyle Shanahan is holding out hope that all three can face Dallas, but it’s far from a sure thing. If Pearsall’s debut was like being pushed into the pool to learn how to swim, his challenge against the Cowboys could be akin to being thrown off the high dive.

Pearsall, 24, will be a central figure in a nationally televised game based on his remarkable story of being shot in the chest on Aug. 31 during a robbery attempt and then coming back to play six weeks later. But Pearsall missed a lot of practice time, and even before the incident was limited in the offseason and in training camp because of a partial shoulder dislocation.

In the end, Pearsall caught three passes for 21 yards in five targets from quarterback Brock Purdy, numbers that would be less than impressive if not for his remarkable personal story.

Having worked out the soreness from Sunday, Pearsall was eager to get back at it Wednesday.

“I’m excited for practice and meetings,” Pearsall said. “That doesn’t change for games. I’m just playing football, what I’ve been playing since I was 6 years old. But I’m definitely looking forward to some opportunities.”

Primarily trained as an “X” receiver or split end, Pearsall opened the game that way but as the day went on he got in some snaps at flanker, in the slot and went in motion.

“I don’t think they planned on me having the role I ended up having, but after B.A. went down and Deebo was sick, I was working different positions,” Pearsall said.

“I feel like maybe you get more one-on-one matchups being back-side (as an X), but other than that, you’re a receiver in the league.”

Shanahan believes Pearsall will profit from the work he got against Kansas City and noted that he had no “busts” in terms of route mistakes while playing different positions.

“The more he plays, the better he’s going to get,” Shanahan said. “You can see that in practice. It’s only going to help him going forward. (He had) more reps in the game than anticipated with guys going down, and he’ll get more comfortable every week.”

One of the reasons Pearsall was selected in the first round was his ability to play at any receiving spot in the 49ers’ offense.

“Ricky is plug-and-play with all routes,” Shanahan said. “It’s not like he has a small route tree. He can run the whole tree.”

Pearsall’s overall impression on how he fared?

“I saw a lot of room for improvement, to be out of training camp and this period of time, there’s a lot of opportunity for me to get better,” Pearsall said. “I’ll just go back and grind, do what I normally do and work hard.”

MORE WALKING WOUNDED

Also not practicing were defensive tackle Kevin Givens (groin), place kicker Jake Moody (ankle) and safety/special teamer George Odum.

The 49ers did not open the 21-day practice window for running back Christian McCaffery (Achilles) to return from injured reserve. They hope to see him on the practice field after the bye week, but it remains to be seen how soon McCaffery will be ready to play in a game once he is back at practice.

Left tackle Trent Williams didn’t practice with a veteran’s day off. Those who were limited were wide receiver Chris Conley (ankle), defensive tackle Nick Bosa (elbow) and running back Jordan Mason (shoulder).

Cornerback Deommodore Lenoir did not warm up with the defensive backs and instead was seen with trainers on the side after the pre-practice walkthrough.

HALL OF FAME ELIGIBLES

Left tackle Joe Staley, who retired after the Super Bowl following the 2019 season, was included in the cutdown from 167 modern-era candidates for the Pro Football Hall of Fame to 50. It is Staley’s first season of eligibility, as players must be retired for five seasons to be considered.

Staley, who played 13 seasons from 2007 through 2019, was a six-time Pro Bowl selection and a second-team Associated Press All-Pro from 2011 through 2013.

Former 49ers made the list of 50 include running back Ricky Watters (1992-94, also played for Philadelphia and Seattle), wide receiver Anquan Boldin (2014-15, also played for Arizona, Baltimore and Detroit) and place kicker Gary Anderson (1998, also played for Pittsburgh, Philadelphia, Minnesota and Tennessee in a 23-year career).

The next step will be whittling the list from 50 to 25 after a vote from Hall of Fame selectors. There will eventually be between four and eight modern-era players enshrined at NFL Honors Night at the Super Bowl in New Orleans.

Former 49ers who are eligible as senior candidates include running back Roger Craig (1983-90 with the 49ers, also played for the Raiders and Minnesota) and quarterback Jim Plunkett (1976-77, also played for New England and the Raiders).